October 25, 2009

[]< ET NEWS
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NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING TEAM
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Issue No. 397 ISSN 1554-074X http://www.etnews.org 10-25-2009
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Contents
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- News
- Journal
- Employment
- Seminar Schedule
- Comments & Acknowledgements
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NEWS
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Visual Smoke Alarms now state law in Texas
Examiner.com
AP file photo If requested by a tenant, a landlord must install a
visual smoke detector that is capable of alerting a person with a
hearing impairment of ...
http://www.examiner.com/x-21533-Dallas-Disability-Examiner~y2009m10d23
-Visual-Smoke-Alarms-now-state-law-in-Texas
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The Key Components Of Data Center Fire Protection Systems
Processor.com
Regardless if your data center is serving a small to medium-sized
business or a multinational enterprise, a fire protection system is
imperative to business ...
http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/P3126/
28p26/28p26.asp&guid=
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2009 Code Development Hearings and Annual Conference
Download the 2012 code-cycle proposed changes ...
http://www.iccsafe.org/newsroom/annual/Pages/2009Conference.aspx
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This week I'll see you in Portland.
http://www.afaa.org/pdf/TI_IntFA_PR_IBC_Portland_Oct2009.pdf
Have fun!
- Mike
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/codeweenie
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ET NEWS JOURNAL
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NFPA 72-2010 CHANGES PART I; Chapter 1 and 2
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Arguably, the biggest change in NFPA 72-2010 edition is its new name,
National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. The next, most obvious change
is the new chapters, many of which are reserved. It is not possible
to present these changes using the plain text used in this newsletter.
To read my review of the changes, please download it from here:
http://www.etnews.org/docs/NFPA_72-2010_Changes_part_I.pdf.
An excerpt from the forward summarizes some of the changes:
"The 2010 edition of the Code presents a major change in the scope and
organization of the document. This is reflected in the new title,
National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. The broader scope of the Code
includes emergency communications systems in addition to the
traditional scope of fire alarm systems. A new chapter on emergency
communications systems (ECS) has been added to provide requirements
for a variety of systems used for communication of information in
various emergency situations. The ECS chapter includes new systems
such as in-building mass notification systems, wide-area mass
notification systems, distributed recipient mass notifications
systems, two-way radio communications enhancement system, and area of
refuge emergency communications systems. The ECS chapter also includes
two systems formerly located in the chapter on protected premises fire
alarm systems: (in-building fire) emergency voice/alarm communications
systems, and two-way in-building wired (telephone) emergency services
communication systems.
"Two other new chapters have also been added in the 2010 edition. The
new chapter on circuits and pathways includes requirements and
information formerly from the chapters on fundamentals of fire alarm
systems and from the chapter on protected premises fire alarm systems.
This new chapter provides circuit and pathway performance (class)
designations and pathway survivability level designations as well as
general wiring requirements presented in a format that will allow use
by any type of system covered in the Code. The new chapter on
emergency control functions and interfaces includes requirements and
information formerly contained in the chapter of protected premises
fire alarm systems. In this chapter the term "fire safety function"
has generally been replaced with the term "emergency control function"
to reflect the potentially broader application beyond just fire alarm
systems. This new chapter also includes new provisions for
first-responder-use elevators and elevators for occupant controlled
evacuation.
"The 2010 edition has been substantially reorganized to accommodate
the new chapters in a logical order with reserved chapter numbers
included to minimize the potential for further renumbering in the
future.
"The overall organization includes administrative chapters, support
chapters, and system chapters as well as numerous annexes for
usability.
"Significant revisions have also been made throughout the 2010 edition
to reflect the broader application of the Code to emergency
communication systems. These include revisions within the chapter on
fundamentals to address power supply requirements, signal priorities,
signal distinction and documentation requirements; revisions to the
protected premises chapter to better accommodate non-fire alarm
systems in combination systems; revisions to the supervising stations
chapter and public emergency reporting system chapter to allow their
use for emergency communications systems; and revisions to the testing
and maintenance chapter to incorporate requirements for the
inspection, testing, and maintenance of mass notification systems and
two-way radio communications enhancement systems.
"In addition to the content of the new chapters, the 2010 edition
includes significant technical changes. These include new requirements
for signaling to the deaf and hard of hearing, new requirements and
guidance for the design, installation, and testing of voice
communications systems to ensure voice intelligibility, and extensive
revision of requirements for the installation of smoke detectors in
both level and sloped joist and beam ceiling applications.
"Revisions to the supervising station chapter in the 2010 edition
include the retirement of four legacy transmission technologies no
longer being installed: active multiplex transmission systems,
McCulloh systems, directly connected noncoded systems, and private
microwave systems. The subsection on "Other Transmission Technologies"
has been relocated to become the default subsection for supervising
stations communications methods.
"Modifications in the 2010 edition to the chapter on single- and
multiple-station alarms and household fire alarms systems include new
provisions to address the interconnection of smoke alarms using
wireless technology, new provisions for signaling to those with
hearing loss, and new requirements and guidance for the placement of
smoke alarms and smoke detectors.
"The 2010 edition includes two new guidance annexes, Annex C on system
performance and design, and Annex D on speech intelligibility.
"Prior editions of this document have been translated into languages
other than English, including Spanish."
Next week; Chapter 3
Send me your questions and comments: mailto:mike@etnews.org
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
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JOB OPPORTUNITY and SEEKING EMPLOYMENT announcements are provided as a
service. ET News provides a venue for direct contact between job
seekers and employers. ET News is not a placement agency and does not
endorse either job seekers or employers.
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Post your announcement at http://www.etnews.org/index.php?s=257
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SEMINAR SCHEDULE
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Contact me regarding seminar sponsorship mailto:mikebaker@afaa.org
Jeanne and I are scheduling seminars in the new year. If you have an
interest in seminar sponsorship, contact me and I'll send you
additional information including available dates. Most of the first
quarter of 2010 is taken but there are other dates available
throughout the year.
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October 26-30, 2009 Portland, OR
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Fire Alarm System Testing & Inspection
Intermediate Fire Alarm Seminar (NICET I & II)
Fire Alarm Plan Review
Understanding IBC Fire Alarm Requirements
http://www.afaa.org/pdf/TI_IntFA_PR_IBC_Portland_Oct2009.pdf
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November 3-5, 2009 Los Angeles, CA
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Fire Alarm System Testing & Inspection
Advanced Fire Alarm Seminar (NICET III & IV)
http://www.afaa.org/pdf/TI_AdvFA_LosAngeles_Nov2009.pdf
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November 17-19, 2009 Anchorage, AK
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Fire Alarm System Testing & Inspection
Advanced Fire Alarm Seminar (NICET III & IV)
http://www.afaa.org/pdf/TI_AdvFA_Anchorage_Nov2009.pdf
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November 30 and December 1-4, 2009 Bremerton, WA
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Intermediate Fire Alarm Seminar (NICET I & II)
Fire Alarm Plan Review
Advanced Fire Alarm Seminar (NICET III & IV)
http://www.afaa.org/pdf/IntFA_PR_AdvFA_Bremerton_Dec2009.pdf
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December 8-10, 2009 Pleasant Hill, CA
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Fire Alarm System Testing & Inspection
Fire Alarm Plan Review
Understanding NFPA 101 Fire Alarm Requirements
http://afaa.org/pdf/TI_PR_101_PleasantHill_Dec2009.pdf
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COMMENTS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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ET News is written nearly every week and almost always sent on Sunday.
Doug Hockinson built ETNews.org using PHP/MySQL-> http://www.phpvs.com
Buy codes and standards online-> http://www.etnews.org/index.php?s=461
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Some information may be found in this message and etnews.org that is
reprinted with permission from one or more of the following; NFPA 70
National Electrical Code(r), NFPA 72(r) National Fire Alarm Code(r),
NFPA 101(r) Life Safety Code(r), Copyright(c) NFPA, Quincy, MA 02269
This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of
the NFPA on the referenced subject, which is represented only by the
standard in its entirety.
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